Erroneous erasure determination apparatus, method and computer program product, and image generation apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image file generation apparatus includes an identification unit for identifying two or more image data desired to be recorded in a multi-page format in which a plurality of image data is recorded in a single image file, and an image file generation unit for generating a single image file by recording auxiliary information at a known position of a header of an image file which indicates that the image file is recorded in the multi-page format, and for recording the two or more image data identified by the identification unit delimited by a specific identifier between each image data.

The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/285,301, filed on Oct. 1, 2008, which is basedon and claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2007-259659,filed on Oct. 3, 2007, and Japanese patent application No. 2008-250401,filed on Sep. 29, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an erroneous erasure determinationapparatus, method, and computer program product for determining thelikelihood of erroneous erasure of image data in an image file.

2. Description of the Related Art

Technologies for improving management convenience for a plurality ofimage data related to each other by recording and managing them as asingle image file are known.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-013759proposes a method for generating a stereoscopic image file by storingtwo image data (left image data and right image data) that form astereoscopically viewable image with an identifier for delimiting theimage data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-266420 proposes amethod for combining and recording a serially photographed plurality ofimage data as a single compressed continuous still image file.

If an image file including a plurality of image data generated by themethod proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2006-013759 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.11(1999)-266420 is edited using image software of image editing deviceor the like that can recognize only one front image data, however, theimage data recorded following the front image data may possibly beerased erroneously.

For example, when a JPEG image file including a plurality of image datadelimited by an identifier, EOI marker, between each image data isopened with ancillary software “Windows Image and Fax Viewer” ofMicrosoft Windows XP, only an image of the front image data isdisplayed. Then, when the displayed image is rotated in the right orleft direction, the image file is overwritten with the rotationprocessing performed on the front image data and the subsequent imagedata erroneously erased.

As such, there is a demand for a method of automatically detecting sucherroneous erasure in order to reduce the burden on the user for imagedata management.

In view of the circumstances described above, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide an erroneous erasure determinationapparatus, method and computer program product capable of determiningthe likelihood of erroneous erasure of image data in an image file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The erroneous erasure determination apparatus of the present inventionis an apparatus including an erroneous erasure determination means fordetermining whether or not image data in an image file are likely tohave been erroneously erased based on auxiliary information attachedthereto which indicates whether or not the image file is recorded in amulti-page format, and information which indicates the number of imagedata recorded in the image file.

In the apparatus described above, the erroneous erasure determinationmeans may be a means that includes a format judging unit that judgeswhether or not the image file is a file recorded in the multi-pageformat based on the auxiliary information, and an image data countjudging unit that judges whether or not two or more image data arerecorded in the image file, and determines that image data in the imagefile are likely to have been erroneously erased when the image file isjudged by the format judging unit as recorded in the multi-page formatand judged by the image data count judging unit that two or more imagedata are not recorded in the image file.

Further, the image data count judging unit may be a unit that judgeswhether or not two or more image data are recorded in the image filejudged by the format judging unit as recorded in the multi-page format.

Here, the referent of “image data” in the context of “two or more imagedata are recorded” means image data recorded as principal data and doesnot include the other image data, such as the image data of a thumbnailimage and the like.

Preferably, the auxiliary information is recorded at a known position ofthe header of the image file.

Further, the multi-page format may be a recording format in which aplurality of image data are recorded in a single image file delimited bya specific identifier between each image data, and the image data countjudging unit may be a unit that judges whether or not two or more imagedata are recorded in the image file based on whether or not image dataare present following the specific identifier first appearing in theimage file.

Still further, the erroneous erasure determination means may be a meansthat, when determined that the erroneous erasure is likely to haveoccurred, outputs the determination result.

Further, the apparatus described above may further include a displaymeans, and the erroneous erasure determination means may be a meansthat, when determined that the erroneous erasure is likely to haveoccurred, outputs the determination result that erroneous erasure islikely to have occurred to the display means to cause the display meansto display that image data are likely to have been erroneously erased.

Still further, the erroneous erasure determination means may be a meansthat, when determined that erroneous erasure is likely to have occurred,attaches auxiliary information to the image file indicating thaterroneous erasure of image data is likely to have occurred in the imagefile.

Further, the specific identifier may be an EOI marker.

The erroneous erasure determination method of the present invention is amethod including the step of determining whether or not image data in animage file are likely to have been erroneously erased based on auxiliaryinformation attached thereto which indicates whether or not the imagefile is recorded in a multi-page format, and information which indicatesthe number of image data recorded in the image file.

The computer program product of the present invention is a computerreadable recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing acomputer to perform the step of determining whether or not image data inan image file are likely to have been erroneously erased based onauxiliary information attached thereto which indicates whether or notthe image file is recorded in a multi-page format, and information whichindicates the number of image data recorded in the image file.

The image file generation apparatus of the present invention method, andcomputer program product of the present invention, the likelihood oferroneous erasure of image data in an image file may be determined bydetermining whether or not image data in the image file are likely tohave been erroneously erased based on auxiliary information attachedthereto which indicates whether or not the image file is recorded in amulti-page format, and information which indicates the number of imagedata recorded in the image file.

In the erroneous erasure determination apparatus, when a determinationis made that erroneous erasure is likely to have occurred in the imagefile, the determination result may be outputted to a display means tocause the display means to display that image data are likely to havebeen erroneously erased, or auxiliary information may be attached to theimage file indicating that erroneous erasure of image data is likely tohave occurred in the image file, thereby the management capability forimage data in an image file recorded in the multi-page format may beimproved.

According to the image file generation apparatus of the presentinvention, the apparatus includes an identification unit for identifyingtwo or more image data desired to be recorded in a multi-page format inwhich a plurality of image data are recorded in a single image file, andan image file generation unit for generating a single image file byrecording auxiliary information at a known position of the header of theimage file which indicates that the image file is recorded in themulti-page format and recording the two or more image data identified bythe identification unit delimited by a specific identifier between eachimage data. Thus, an image file generated by the apparatus may beidentified whether or not recorded in the multi-page format by referringto the auxiliary information recorded at a known position of the header,and also a determination may be made as to whether or not two or moreimage data are recorded in the file by checking to see if image data arepresent following the specific identifier appearing first in the imagefile. Further, based on these, the likelihood of erroneous erasure ofimage data in the image file may be determined easily.

In the image file generation apparatus described above, where theidentification unit is a unit that identifies two or more image datadesired to be recorded in the multi-page format from a plurality ofimage data based on either one of date and time information attached toeach image data and evaluation result of correlation between each imagedata or both, highly related two or more image data may be recorded inthe multi-page format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a camera system according to thepresent invention, illustrating a configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example structure of an image file recorded inmulti-page format.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example structure of an image file recorded innormal format.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example structure of an image file in which imagedata are erroneously erased.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example screen of a monitor indicating that imagedata are likely to have been erroneously erased.

FIG. 6 illustrates a manner of attaching auxiliary information to animage file indicating that image data are likely to have beenerroneously erased.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image file generation processperformed by the camera system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an erroneous erasure determinationprocess performed by the camera system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an erroneous erasure determinationprocess performed by the camera system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a personal computer according tothe present invention, illustrating a configuration thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the erroneous erasuredetermination apparatus and image file generation apparatus of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a camera system 1 towhich the erroneous erasure determination apparatus and image filegeneration apparatus of the present invention are applied, illustratinga configuration thereof.

The camera system 1 includes two imaging units 21A, 21B, an imagingcontrol unit 22, an image processing unit 23, a compression/expansionprocessing unit 24, a frame memory 25, a media control unit 26, aninternal memory 27, a display control unit 28, and the like, which sendand receive various signals and data through a data bus 35.

The imaging units 21A, 21B include lenses 10A, 10B, apertures 11A, 11B,shutters 12A, 12B, CCDs 13A, 13B, analog front ends (AFEs) 14A, 14B, andA/D conversion units 15A, 15B respectively. Each of the lenses 10A, 10Bincludes a plurality of lenses having different functions, such as afocus lens for bringing a subject into focus, a zoom lens for realizinga zoom function, and the like, and their positions are controlled by notshown lens drive units. The aperture diameter of each of the apertureunits 11A, 11B is controlled by a not shown aperture drive unit based onaperture value data obtained through AE processing. Each of the shutters12A, 12B is a mechanical shutter and is driven by a not shown shutterdrive unit according to the shutter speed obtained through AFprocessing. Each of the CCDs 13A, 13B has a photoelectric surface whichincludes multitudes of light receiving elements arrangedtwo-dimensionally on which subject light is focused andphotoelectrically converted, thereby an analog imaging signal isobtained. The AFEs 14A, 14B perform noise elimination processing andgain control processing (collectively referred to as analog processing)on the analog imaging signals outputted from the CCDs 13A, 13Brespectively. The A/D conversion units 15A, 15B convert the analogimaging signals analog-processed by the AFEs 14A, 14B to digital signalsrespectively.

The imaging control unit 22 includes an AF processing unit and an AEprocessing unit. Where the focus is under adjustable conditions, the AFprocessing unit determines the positions of the focus lenses of thelenses 10A, 10B based on pre-images obtained by the imaging units 21A,21B through a halfway depression of the release button, and outputs thedetermined positions to the imaging units 21A, 21B. The AE processingunit determines aperture values and shutter speeds based on thepre-images, and outputs the determined values to the imaging units 21A,21B.

The image processing unit 23 performs image processing, such as whitebalance control, tone correction, sharpness correction, colorcorrection, YC conversion, and the like, on image data obtained by theimaging units 21A, 21B.

The compression/expansion processing unit 24 performs compressionprocessing on the image data processed by the image processing unit 23in a compression format such as JPEG, and outputs the compressed imagedata to the frame memory 25.

The frame memory 25 is a work memory used when various types ofprocessing, including the processing performed by the image processingunit, are performed on the image data obtained by the imaging units 21A,21B.

The media control unit 26 accesses a recording medium 29 to performread/write control of an image file.

The internal memory 27 has stored therein various constants to be set inthe camera system 1, programs to be executed by a CPU 32, and the like.

The display control unit 28 is provided for causing image data stored inthe frame memory 25 or image data recorded in the recording medium 29 tobe displayed on a monitor 20. Here, the display control unit 28 andmonitor 20 constitute a display means.

An operation unit (photographing mode setting means) 33 includes arelease button, an operation mode switch, a menu/OK button, azoom/up-down lever, a left-right button, a back button, displayswitching button, and the like provided on the body of the camera system1, and constitutes an input means that allows the user to performvarious setting operations. The user may select a photographing mode forphotographing performed by the imaging units 21A, 21B by operating theoperation unit 33. Further, switching of the operation mode switchallows selection of a recording mode (photographing mode) or areproduction mode.

Here, the photographing mode includes normal mode, action mode, bracketmode, panorama mode, stereoscopic mode, multiview image mode, and thelike.

Normal mode is a mode in which single image data (image data of oneimage) are obtained by depressing the release button. Action mode is amode in which photographing is performed continuously while the releasebutton is depressed to obtain a plurality of image data. Bracket mode isa mode in which photographing is performed continuously while varioussetting values, including the exposure, white balance, focus position,and the like are changed according to predetermined conditions to obtaina plurality of image data. Panorama mode is a mode in whichphotographing is performed repeatedly while moving the camera system 1in up-down directions or left-right directions within a range desired tobe obtained as a panorama image to obtain a plurality of image data.Stereoscopic mode is a mode in which the same subject is photographedfrom different angles to obtain two image data stereoscopically viewablewith the help of parallax. Here, the same subject is photographed usingthe imaging units 21A, 21B disposed spaced apart to each other or usingeither one of them by photographing the subject a plurality of timeswhile changing the position of the imaging unit. Multiview Image Mode isa mode in which the same subject is photographed from various angles toobtain a plurality of image data for building motion capture, obtainingsport event data, and the like.

The CPU 32 controls each unit of the camera system 1 in response tosignals from the operation unit 33 and each processing unit.

Hereinafter, image file generation processing through control of the CPU32 will be described in detail. The CPU 32 receives the setting ofphotographing mode from the operation unit 33, and stores the settingresult in the internal memory. The CPU 32 further identifies two or moreimage data obtained by either one of the imaging unit 21A, 21B or byboth in either one of action mode, bracket mode, panorama mode,stereoscopic mode, and multiview image mode as the image data desired tobe recorded in a multi-page format. Then, the CPU 32 causes variousprocessing, such as image processing, compression processing, and thelike, to be performed on the identified two or more image data and theprocessed two or more image data to be recorded in the multi-page formatas a single image file, which is then stored in the recording medium 29through the media control unit 26.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example structure of an image file recorded in themulti-page format. Hereinafter, a method for recording an image file inthe multi-page format will be described with reference to FIG. 2. First,a header (APPx, application marker segment) H1 is recorded immediatelyafter an SOI marker that indicates the start of the file. The header(APPX) H1 includes Exif identification code, Tiff Header, and auxiliaryinformation (0th IFD/Value, 1st IFD/Value). 0th IFD/Value includes 0thIFD, Exif IFD, MP file management information and the like, andauxiliary information related to a compressed image is recorded therein.More specifically, a code indicating the standard version of the file,for example, “0230” is recorded in an Exif Version tag area 61 of theExif IFD, and a code indicating that the file is recorded in multi-pageformat, for example, “E3” is recorded in the first two bytes of an imageunique ID tag area 62 of the Exif IFD. Further, multi-page format (MP)file management information 64 is recorded. Then, n image dataidentified as the image data desired to be recorded in the multi-pageformat are recorded following the header (APPx) H1 delimited by aspecific identifier, such as an EOI marker or the like, between eachimage. An EOI marker E1 is recorded immediately after the front imagedata (first image data) D1, then an SOI marker S2, a header H2, a secondimage data D2, an EOI marker E2, an SOI marker S3, a header H3, a thirdimage data D3, an EOI marker E3, and so on with a repetition of similarseries of data sets to an SOI marker Sn, a header Hn, an nth image dataDn, and an EOI marker En are recorded sequentially.

Here, the description has been made of a case in which a code indicatingthat the image file is recorded in the multi-page format, for example,“E3” is recorded in a portion of the image unique ID tag area. But therecording position of the auxiliary information indicating whether ornot the image file is recorded in multi-page format is not limited tothe image unique ID tag area, and the information may be recorded at anyother arbitrarily determined position as long as it is a known positionof the header recognizable by an image reader device that reads in theimage file and performs processing thereon, such as reproduction andediting processing.

Further, the CPU 32 causes various processing, such as image processing,compression processing, and the like to be performed on single imagedata obtained by photographing with either one of the imaging units 21A,21B in the normal mode and the processed image data to be recorded inthe normal format, in which single image data are recorded in a singleimage file, to generate a single image file, which is then stored in therecording medium 29 through the media control unit 26.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example structure of an image file recorded in thenormal format. The structure of the image file recorded in the normalformat shown in FIG. 3 differs from the structure of the image filerecorded in the multi-page format shown in FIG. 2 in that a coderepresenting that the file is not recorded in the multi-page format,that is, a code which is different from the code representing that thefile is recorded in the multi-page format, for example, “AD” is recordedin the first two bytes of the image unique ID tag area 62 of the ExifIFD, and it does not have the tag area of the multi-page format (MP)file management information 64 shown in FIG. 2. Further, single imagedata DB and an EOI marker EB are recorded following the header (APPx)HB.

Here, the description has been made of a case in which image dataobtained by photographing by the imaging unit or units are recorded inthe multi-page format or in the normal format, in which single imagedata are recorded in a single image file, according to the photographingmode of the photographing. But, for example, a plurality of image datamay be read out from the external recording medium 29 and deployed inthe frame memory 25. Then, two or more image data may be identified asthe image data desired to be recorded in the multi-page format from thedeployed image data by the CPU 32 based on the date and time informationor subject distance information attached to each image data, or anevaluation result of correlation between the image data, and theidentified image data may be recorded in the multi-page format as asingle image file as shown in FIG. 2.

Here, the processing for identifying two or more image data desired tobe recorded in multi-page format based on the date and time informationof the image data is processing performed by the CPU 32 in which thedate and time information attached to each image data is referenced and,for example, two or more image data having a time interval between thedates and times which falls within a predetermined time range areassumed to be highly related image data to each other and identified asimage data desired to be recorded in the multi-page format.

Note that, two or more highly related image data may be identified basedon each type of tag information of imaging conditions, such as subjectdistance, subject position, scent type, and the like attached to eachimage data, as well as the date and time information, and so identifiedimages may be determined as the image data desired to be recorded in themulti-page format.

Further, the processing for identifying two or more image data desiredto be recorded in the multi-page format based on the evaluation resultof correlation between the image data is processing performed by the CPU32 in which image characteristics, such as color distribution, luminancedistribution, shape extraction result (face extraction result, or thelike), and the like are obtained from each image data, then acorrelation between the image data is calculated with respect to each ofthe image characteristics, and two or more image data having evaluationvalues obtained by comprehensively evaluating the calculatedcorrelations greater than a predetermined threshold value are assumed tobe highly related image data to each other and identified as the imagedata desired to be recorded in multi-page format.

Next, image file reproduction processing by the CPU 32 will be describedin detail. The CPU 32 determines the operation mode of the camera system1, and if it is determined to be the reproduction mode, an image file isread out from the external recording medium 29 and deployed in the framememory 25. Next, a determination is made as to whether or not image datain the image file is likely to have been erroneously erased and if not,the image data of the image file recorded in the frame memory 25 areexpanded by the compression/expansion processing unit 24 and displayedon the monitor 20 through the display control unit 28.

In the mean time, if it is determined that image data in the image fileis likely to have been erroneously erased, the front image data of theimage file recorded in the frame memory 25 are expanded by thecompression/expansion processing unit 24 and displayed on the monitor 20through the display control unit 28, and the determination result thaterroneous erasure is likely to have occurred is outputted to the displaycontrol unit 24 to display a message on the monitor 20 indicating thatimage data are likely to have been erroneously erased. For example, asshown in FIG. 5, a message 71 like “The file is likely to be a damagedMP file” is displayed on the screen 70 of the monitor 20 together withthe front image.

Further, where a determination is made that erroneous erasure is likelyto have occurred, auxiliary information may be attached to the imagefile indicating that erroneous erasure of image data is likely to haveoccurred in the image file, together with or without the displaydescribed above.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an error code representing thelikelihood of erroneous erasure of image data in the image file, forexample, “ER” may be recorded in the first two bytes of the image uniqueID tag area 62 of the Exif IFD. Alternatively, an error informationcomment indicating that erroneous erasure of image data is likely tohave occurred in the image file, for example, “(MP file error)” may beadditionally recorded in the beginning of the existing user comment ofuser comment tag area 63 which is a tag provided for the user forwriting a key word or a comment for the image file.

Once the auxiliary information indicating that erroneous erasure ofimage data is likely to have occurred in an image file is attached tothe image file by the illustrated methods described above, thelikelihood of erroneous erasure of image data may be easily recognizedby referring to the auxiliary information, thereby image data managementcapability may be improved.

Hereinafter, determination processing by the CPU 32 for the likelihoodof erroneous erasure of image data in an image file will be described indetail.

Where an image file recorded in the multi-page format is edited usingimage software of image editing device or the like that can recognizeonly one front image data, image data recorded following the front imagedata may possibly be erroneously erased. In the image file in whichimage data recorded following the front image data have been erroneouslyerased by this, a code indicating that the file is recorded in themulti-page format, for example, “E3” is recorded in the first two bytesof the image unique ID tag area 62 of the Exif IFD, but, for example,the file includes only single image data as shown in FIG. 4.

With respect to such an image file, the CPU 32 performs format judgmentprocessing for judging whether or not the image file is recorded in themulti-page format and image data count judgment processing for judgingwhether or not two or more image data are recorded. Then, the CPU 32determines that image data in the image file are likely to have beenerroneously erased if the image file is judged as recorded in themulti-page format and judged that two or more image data are notrecorded.

In the format judgment processing, the code recorded in the first twobytes of the image unique ID tag area of the Exif IFD, that is,auxiliary information indicating whether or not the image file isrecorded in the multi-page format is referenced to determine whether ornot the image file is recorded in the multi-page format. Morespecifically, if “E3” which is defined as the code indicating that theimage file is recorded in the multi-page format is recorded in the firsttwo bytes of the image unique ID tag area of the Exif IFD, the imagefile is judged as recorded in the multi-page format, and if a codedifferent from “E3” is recorded, the image file is judged as recorded inthe normal format in which single image data are recorded in a singleimage file.

In the image data count judgment processing, for example, where themulti-page format is of a type that records a plurality of image data ina single image file by delimiting each image data by a specificidentifier, such as an EOI marker or the like, a judgment as to whetheror not two or more image data are recorded in the image file is madebased on whether or not image data are present following the specificidentifier, such as the EOI marker or the like, first appearing in theimage file. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a case in which iftwo or more image data are recorded in the image file, there is at leastone location in the JPEG marker stream where an EOI marker is followedby an SOI marker and if only one image data are recorded in the imagefile, there is no such location, a judgment may be made as to whether ornot two or more image data are recorded in the image file by checking tosee if there is one or more locations in the JPEG marker stream where anEOI marker is followed by an SOI marker.

The CPU 32 may perform the format judgment processing and image datacount judgment processing on all target image files for determining thelikelihood of erroneous erasure of image data and determine thelikelihood of erroneous erasure based on both of the results.Alternatively, the CPU 32 may perform either one of the format judgmentprocessing and image data count judgment processing first, and then theother processing is performed only when it is determined necessary basedon the determination result in order to determine the likelihood oferroneous erasure, and may determine the likelihood of erroneous erasurebased on these determination results.

For example, the format judgment processing is performed first, and ifthe image file is judged as recorded in the normal format in whichsingle image data are recorded in a single image file, it is determinedthat image data in the image file are not likely to have beenerroneously erased, while if the image file is judged as recorded in themulti-page format, the image data count judgment processing is furtherperformed. In the image data count judgment processing, if it is judgedthat two or more image data are recorded, it may be determined thatimage data in the image file are not likely to have been erroneouslyerased, while if it is judged that two or more image data are notrecorded, it may be determined that image data in the image file arelikely to have been erroneously erased. Likewise, the image data countjudgment processing may be performed first, and then the format judgmentprocessing is further performed only when it is judged that two or moreimage data are not recorded. Then, if the image file is judged asrecorded in the multi-page format, a determination may be made thatimage data in the image file are likely to have been erroneously erased.

Next, an example image file generation process performed by the camerasystem 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. First, the useroperates the operation unit 33 to select the photographing mode of thecamera system 1 (step ST1). Then, the selection information of thephotographing mode is received by the CPU 32 from the operation unit 33,and a determination is made as to whether or not the selectedphotographing mode is one of the action mode, bracket mode, panoramamode, stereoscopic mode, and multiview image mode (step ST2). If stepST2 is positive, the mode flag of multi-page format (MP) is set to TRUEand stored in the internal memory 27 (step ST3). On the other hand, ifstep ST2 is negative, the mode flag of multi-page format (MP) is set toFALSE and stored in the internal memory 27 (step ST4). Thereafter,photographing is performed by either one of the imaging units 21A, 21Bor by both according to the selected photographing mode in step ST1, andimage data obtained by the photographing are stored in the frame memory25 after various processing, including compression, is performed thereon(step ST5). Then, common header information is generated by the CPU 32regardless of whether or not the mode flag of the multi-page format (MP)is TRUE when generating an image file (step ST6). Then, a determinationis made as to whether or not the mode flag of the multi-page format (MP)is TRUE (step ST7). If the step ST7 is positive, a code representingthat the image file is recorded in the multi-page format is recorded inthe first two bytes of an image unique ID tag area of the Exif IFD, andMP management information is recorded to generate the header of theimage file (step ST8). Then, an image file in the multi-page format isgenerated by reading out the two or more image data recorded in theframe memory 25 in step ST5 and recording the readout two or more imagedata following the header generated in step ST8 delimited by a specificidentifier, such as an EOI marker or the like, between each image data(step ST9), which is then stored in the recording medium 29 through themedia control unit 26.

In the mean time, if step ST7 is negative, a code representing that theimage file is not recorded in the multi-page format, that is, a codewhich is different from the code representing that the file is recordedin the multi-page format is recorded in the first two bytes of the imageunique ID tag area of the Exif IFD to generate the header of the imagefile (step ST10). Then, an image file in the normal format is generatedby reading out the single image data recorded in the frame memory 25 instep ST5 and recording the readout single image data following theheader generated in step ST10 (step ST11), which is then stored in therecording medium 29 through the media control unit 26.

Next, an example erroneous erasure determination process (image filereproduction process) performed by the camera system 1 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8. First, an image file is read out from theexternal recording medium 29 and deployed in the frame memory 25 by theCPU 32 (step ST21). Then, the header information of the image filedeployed in the frame memory 25 is obtained (step ST22), and adetermination is made as to whether or not the Exif Version tag valuerecorded in the Exif Version tag area of the header is greater than orequal to “0230” (step ST23). If step ST23 is negative, it is determinedthat image data in the image file are not likely to have beenerroneously erased, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, ifstep ST23 is positive, a determination is made as to whether or not theimage unique ID tag is present in the header of the image file (stepST24). If the step ST29 is negative, it is determined that image data inthe image file are not likely to have been erroneously erased and theprocess is terminated.

On the other hand, if step ST24 is positive, a determination is made asto whether or not the file is recorded in the multi-page format byreferring to the code recorded in the first two bytes of the imageunique ID tag area, that is, the auxiliary information indicatingwhether or not the image file is recorded in the multi-page format (stepST25). If step ST25 is negative, it is determined that image data in theimage file are not likely to have been erroneously erased and theprocess is terminated. If step ST25 is positive, a determination is madeas to whether or not image data are recorded following the specificidentifier, such as an EOI marker or the like, first appearing in theimage file (step ST26). If step ST26 is positive, it is determined thatimage data in the image file are not likely to have been erroneouslyerased (step ST26) and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if step ST26 is negative, it is determined that imagedata in the image file are likely to have been erroneously erased, andthe front image data of the image file recorded in the frame memory 25are expanded by the compression/expansion processing unit 24 anddisplayed on the monitor 20 through the display control unit 28, and atthe same time the determination result that erroneous erasure is likelyto have occurred is outputted to the display control unit 28 to displaya message on the monitor 20 indicating that image data are likely tohave been erroneously erased (step ST27).

Next, another example of erroneous erasure determination process (imagefile reproduction process) performed by the camera system 1 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9. First, an image file is read outfrom the external recording medium 29 and deployed in the frame memory25 by the CPU 32 (step ST31). Then, the data in the image file deployedin the frame memory 25 are scanned sequentially from the front data toobtain the appearance order of JPEG markers (step ST32), in order todetermine whether or not there is one or more locations where an EOImarker is followed by an SOI marker (step ST33). If step ST33 ispositive, it is determined that image data in the image file are notlikely to have been erroneously erased, and the process is terminated.

In the mean time, if step ST33 is negative, a determination is made asto whether or not the Exif Version tag value recorded in the ExifVersion tag area of the header is greater than or equal to “0230” (stepST34). If step ST34 is negative, it is determined that image data in theimage file are not likely to have been erroneously erased, and theprocess is terminated. On the other hand, if step ST34 is positive, adetermination is made as to whether or not the image unique ID tag ispresent in the header of the image file (step ST35). If step ST35 isnegative, it is determined that image data in the image file are notlikely to have been erroneously erased, and the process is terminated.On the other hand, if step ST35 is positive, a judgment is made as towhether or not the file is recorded in the multi-page format byreferring to the code recorded in the first two bytes of the imageunique ID tag area, that is, the auxiliary information indicatingwhether or not the image file is recorded in the multi-page format (stepST36). If step ST36 is negative, it is determined that image data in theimage file are not likely to have been erroneously erased, and theprocess is terminated. In the mean time, if step ST36 is positive, it isdetermined that image data in the image file are likely to have beenerroneously erased, and the front image data of the image file recordedin the frame memory 25 are expanded by the compression/expansionprocessing unit 24 and displayed on the monitor 20 through the displaycontrol unit 28, and at the same time the determination result thaterroneous erasure is likely to have occurred is outputted to the displaycontrol unit 28 to display a message on the monitor 20 indicating thatimage data are likely to have been erroneously erased (step ST37).

In the present embodiment, the description has been made of a case inwhich the erroneous erasure determination apparatus and image filegeneration apparatus of the present invention are applied to the camerasystem 1. But the erroneous erasure determination apparatus and imagefile generation apparatus of the present invention may also be realizedby executing the image file generation program and erroneous erasuredetermination program read in an auxiliary storage device on a computer(e.g., personal computer). Here, the image file generation program anderroneous erasure determination program are stored in informationrecording media, or distributed through a network, such as the Internet,and installed on the computer.

Hereinafter, a description will be made of a case in which the erroneouserasure determination apparatus and image file generation apparatus ofthe present invention are applied to a personal computer (PC) 2. FIG. 10is a schematic block diagram of the personal computer 2, illustrating aconfiguration thereof. The personal computer 2 includes a CPU 41, a mainmemory 42, a hard disk 43, a card I/F 45, a display memory 46, akeyboard 48, a mouse controller 49, an audio input/output circuit 51, acommunication I/F 54, and a camera connection I/F 55, and the like,which send and receive various signals and data through a data bus 57.

A CD-ROM 44 has stored therein various programs executed by the CPU 41,including the image file generation program and erroneous erasuredetermination program according to the present invention. The CPU 41controls each unit of the personal computer 2 by the programs stored inthe CD-ROM 44.

First, image file generation processing performed by the CPU 41 bycontrolling each unit of the personal computer 2 using the image filegeneration program stored in the CD-ROM 44 will be described. Aplurality of image data are read out from an external camera system 58through the camera connection I/F 55 or from an external memory card 59through the card I/F 45 and deployed in the main memory 42. Then, two ormore image data assumed to have a high relation to each other areidentified as the image data desired to be recorded in the multi-pageformat from the image data deployed in the main memory 42 based on thedate and time information attached to each image data and evaluationresult of correlation between the image data and, as in the image filegeneration processing in the camera system 1 described above, a singleimage file in which the identified image data are recorded in themulti-page format shown in FIG. 2 is generated, and the generated imagefile is stored in the main memory 42 or in the external memory card 59through the card I/F 45.

Next, erroneous erasure determination processing for determining thelikelihood of erroneous erasure of image data in an image file recordedin the multi-page format performed by the CPU 41 by controlling eachunit of the personal computer 2 using the erroneous erasuredetermination program stored in the CD-ROM 44 will be described. Animage file is read out from an external camera system 58 through thecamera connection I/F 55 or from an external memory card 59 through thecard I/F 45 and deployed in the main memory 42. Then, as in theerroneous erasure determination processing (image file reproductionprocessing) in the camera system 1 described above, judgment processingfor judging whether or not the image file is a file recorded in themulti-page format by checking to see if “E3” which is defined as thecode representing that the image file is recorded in the multi-pageformat is recorded in the first two bytes of the image unique ID tagarea of the Exif IFD of the image file deployed in the main memory 42and processing for judging whether or not two or more image data arerecorded in the image file by judging whether or not image data arepresent following a specific identifier, such as the EOI marker or thelike, first appearing in the image file are preformed. Then, if theimage file is judged as recorded in the multi-page format and judgedthat two or more image data are not recorded, then it is determined thatimage data in the image file are likely to have been erroneously erased.Where it is determined that image data in the image file are likely tohave been erroneously erased, the determination result that erroneouserasure is likely to have occurred is outputted to the display memory 46to display a message, for example like that shown in FIG. 5, on themonitor 47 indicating that image data are likely to have beenerroneously erased. Further, auxiliary information may be attached tothe image file indicating that erroneous erasure of image data is likelyto have occurred in the image file, together with or without the displaydescribed above in the manner, for example, as shown in FIG. 6.

According to each of the embodiments described above, a determination ismade as to whether or not image data in an image file are likely to havebeen erroneously erased based on auxiliary information attached theretowhich indicates whether or not the image file is recorded in themulti-page format in which a plurality of image data are recorded in asingle image file, and information that indicates the number of imagedata recorded in the image file, so that the likelihood of erroneouserasure of image data in an image file may be determined.

In particular, where the image file originally included three or moreimage data of a multiview image recorded in the multi-page format andsome of the image data have been erroneously erased, if two or moreimage data remains in the file, the remaining image data may be used asthe multiview image or erased images may be estimated and reproducedfrom the remaining image data. Where only one image data remains due toerroneous erasure, however, the image data can not be used as themultiview image. Accordingly, it is highly advantageous that the presentinvention is capable of determining whether or not two or more imagedata remain in multiview image data.

The erroneous erasure determination apparatus and image file generationapparatus of the present invention are applicable not only to a camerasystem and a personal computer but also to various types of apparatusesthat record an image file in the multi-page format, or reproduce andedit an image file recorded in the multi-page format. For example, theapparatuses are applicable to a medical image management system forrecording, reproducing, and editing multitudes of image data obtained bymedical imaging systems, such as CT, MRI, ultrasonograph, and the like,an image reproduction apparatus, such as a photo viewer, for reproducingan image recorded in a recording medium, an image server system thatprovides on-line album service through a network, such as the Internet,and the like.

1. An image file generation apparatus, comprising: an identificationunit for identifying two or more image data desired to be recorded in amulti-page format in which a plurality of image data is recorded in asingle image file; and an image file generation unit for generating asingle image file by recording auxiliary information at a known positionof a header of an image file which indicates that the image file isrecorded in the multi-page format, and for recording the two or moreimage data identified by the identification unit delimited by a specificidentifier between each image data.
 2. The image file generationapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the known position comprises aportion of an image unique ID tag area of a format standard Exif.
 3. Theimage file generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein theapparatus further comprises an imaging unit for obtaining image data byphotographing, and a photographing mode setting unit for setting aphotographing mode of the photographing, and wherein the identificationunit comprises a unit that identifies the two or more image data desiredto be recorded in the multi-page format based on a photographing modeset by the photographing mode setting unit.
 4. The image file generationapparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identification unitcomprises a unit that identifies two or more image data photographed inone of an action mode, a bracket mode, a panorama mode, a stereoscopicmode, and a multiview image mode as the two or more image data desiredto be recorded in the multi-page format.
 5. The image file generationapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification unitcomprises a unit that identifies the two or more image data desired tobe recorded in the multi-page format from a plurality of image databased on date and time information attached to each image data.
 6. Theimage file generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein theidentification unit comprises a unit that identifies the two or moreimage data desired to be recorded in the multi-page format from aplurality of image data by evaluating a correlation between each imagedata and based on a result of the evaluation.